The 17-year-old, fresh from his half-century at Acle in the Carter Cup, fell five runs short of a maiden Alliance century after an innings which took just 69 balls and included 11 fours and two sixes.

A magnificent 95 from teenager Jay Eastoe-Smith helped Dereham totally dominate their winning draw at North Runcton A on Saturday.

The 17-year-old, fresh from his half-century at Acle in the Carter Cup, fell five runs short of a maiden Alliance century after an innings which took just 69 balls and included 11 fours and two sixes.

He helped Dereham to an imposing total of 247-8, although they were just unable to complete outright victory as Runcton hung on to finish on 139-9.

The visitors were surprisingly put into bat against a youthful Runcton side on a perfect day for batting. Openers Duncan Hewitt and Phil Banyard put on 35 before Hewitt clipped the ball to square leg and was caught for 17.

Banyard was the next to go, lbw for 31, and that brought Andy Lawrence and Eastoe-Smith together for a partnership of 103.

Eastoe-Smith looked certain to reach three figures, but he was given out caught behind with Dereham on 172.

Gary Starling had Runcton overseas player D Patel caught behind at the second attempt by Neil Burrage off the third ball of the innings.

The visitors then went off the boil slightly in the searing heat and they had to wait until the 11th over for their next breakthrough, as Starling struck again, having Coote caught by Hewitt.

Tom Head made an immediate impact for Dereham, bowling Rawlings in his second over and then trapping Skipper lbw to make it 74-4.

Aaron Garner's reward for a probing spell was the dismissal of Apps, bowled by a well-flighted delivery, and Lawrence came into the attack to take the key wicket of opener John Forder, brilliantly caught by Hoggett for 56.

That opened the gate for a Dereham victory, but despite further wickets for Lawrence, Head and Marczewski, the experienced Hemeter grimly hung on to ensure an extra point for his side.